Centrifugal pump with facilitated self-priming

ABSTRACT

A centrifugal pump ( 10 ) with facilitated self-priming, which comprises a casing ( 11 ) with a suction inlet ( 12 ) and a discharge outlet and with an internal series ( 14 ) of diffusers and impellers, which form a cylindrical assembly that forms, together with the casing ( 11 ), an annular interspace which is connected to the inside of the series ( 14 ) of diffusers and impellers on the discharge side through corresponding openings ( 13   a ) and on the inlet side through a hole ( 18 ) arranged perimetrically in the intake region; the hole ( 18 ) is controlled, on the side of the interspace ( 16 ), by a normally-open flexible metallic laminar valve ( 19 ). A wall ( 20 ) of the pump struck by the fluid exiting from the interspace ( 16 ) through the controlled hole ( 18 ) is shaped so as to have a double symmetrical channel ( 21 ) for imparting to the fluid a double vortex before passing through the first impeller.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a centrifugal pump with facilitated self-priming.

[0002] It is known that centrifugal pumps, in order to ensure optimum operation, must be filled completely with water or, otherwise, with the fluid that they must pump.

[0003] The pump is filled beforehand directly by operators or by dedicated equipment and devices, or else the pump must be able to self-prime when it is at least partially filled with fluid.

[0004] This self-priming is usually performed with the aid of a valve inserted in the pump itself, which ensures recirculation of the fluid in a sort of hydraulic “short-circuiting” so that the pump reaches the optimum filling state before it actually ejects fluid under pressure.

[0005] Once such filling state has been reached, the closure of the self-priming valve allows the pump to resume normal operation with delivery to the outlet provided for this purpose.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The aim of the present invention is to provide a pump that allows facilitated self-priming, with a considerable increase in safety and efficiency during the starting of said pump.

[0007] Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a pump that allows automatic deactivation by interrupting the recirculation of the self-priming step if the optimum level of fluid inside it is reached.

[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide a pump that allows high efficiencies that are fully competitive with respect to similar pumps in the field.

[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide a pump that can be manufactured with the most different dimensions, pressure, and flow-rate capabilities.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide a pump that can be manufactured with known technologies and equipment at costs that are competitive with respect to pumps having similar functionality.

[0011] This aim and these and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a centrifugal pump with facilitated self-priming, comprising a casing with a suction inlet and a discharge outlet and with an internal series of diffusers and impellers, which form a cylindrical assembly that defines, together with said casing, an annular interspace which is connected to the inside of said series of diffusers and impellers on the discharge side through corresponding openings and on the inlet side through a hole arranged perimetrically in the intake region, said hole being controlled, on the side of said interspace, by a normally-open flexible metallic laminar valve, said pump being characterized in that a wall struck by said fluid exiting from said interspace through said controlled hole is shaped so as to have a double symmetrical channel which is suitable to impart to said fluid a double vortex before passing through the first impeller.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become better apparent from the description of an embodiment thereof, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0013]FIG. 1 is a partially sectional perspective view of a pump having the structure according to the invention;

[0014]FIGS. 2 and 3 are two partially sectional perspective views of the pump of FIG. 1;

[0015]FIGS. 4 and 5 are perspective views, in two distinct steps of operation, of a same detail of the pump of FIG. 1;

[0016]FIG. 6 is another partially sectional perspective view of the pump of FIG. 1;

[0017]FIG. 7 is a partially sectional perspective view of a portion of the pump of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] With reference to FIGS. 1 to 7, a centrifugal pump with facilitated self-priming is generally designated by the reference numeral 10.

[0019] The pump 10 comprises, in a cylindrical casing 11 with a suction inlet 12 and a discharge outlet 13, a series or set 14 of diffusers and impellers (only the cylindrical outside of which is visible in the figures), which forms, together with the casing 11, an annular interspace 16.

[0020] Said annular interspace is connected to the inside of said set 14 through radial discharge openings 13 a and is connected to a suction chamber 17 a through a perimetric hole 18 (in the inlet region), which in this case is arranged in a corresponding flange 17 which divides said interspace 16.

[0021] The hole 18 is controlled, on the side of the interspace 16, by a normally-open flexible metallic laminar valve, generally designated by the reference numeral 19.

[0022] According to the invention, said flange 17 is shaped, at its face 20 (that is, the wall struck by the fluid that exits from the hole 18) that lies opposite said set 14, so as to form for the fluid that exits from the interspace 16 through the hole 18 a symmetrical double channel, generally designated by the reference numeral 21, which is suitable to impart to said fluid a double vortex before the suction section.

[0023] In particular, the laminar valve 19 is constituted by a metallic lamina 22 which is fixed in a cantilevered manner, in the vicinity of the hole 18, and curves away from said hole 18 but lies above it.

[0024] In particular, the lamina 22 is fixed to the diffuser 17 by means of a threaded element 23.

[0025] The channel 21 is constituted by two symmetrical channels 24, each of which is shaped like a half-cardioid.

[0026] Said channels 24 are formed by an outer peripheral rim 25 shaped like a cardioid and by an inner rim 26 shaped substantially like a triangle with curved sides.

[0027] Furthermore, an axial suction hole 27 is formed inside the inner rim 26.

[0028] In this case the flange 17 is made of plastics.

[0029] In practice, operation of the pump is as follows: during self-priming, the valve 19 is open and thus allows recirculation of the fluid through the hole 18.

[0030] This recirculation is allowed until an amount of water sufficient to close said laminar valve 19 has accumulated inside the pump 10.

[0031] Once the valve 19 has closed, the fluid can exit normally from the discharge outlet 13 after passing through the suction inlet 27.

[0032] In practice it has been found that the present invention has achieved the intended aim and objects.

[0033] In particular, it should be noted that the pump according to the invention allows easy and rapid self-priming but ensures automatic termination of said self-priming step.

[0034] Moreover, attention is drawn to its constructive simplicity, which however does not reduce the hydraulic and mechanical performance of the pump.

[0035] It should also be noted that the generation of vortices determines a substantial improvement of overall hydraulic characteristics also in the typical transition steps, such as indeed self-priming.

[0036] The present invention is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.

[0037] Thus, for example, the wall struck by the fluid that exits from the interspace can be formed by the first diffuser of said set of diffusers and impellers.

[0038] The technical details can be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

[0039] The materials and the dimensions may be any according to requirements.

[0040] The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. PD2001A000013 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference. 

1. A centrifugal pump with facilitated self-priming, comprising a casing (11) with a suction inlet (12) and a discharge outlet (13) and with an internal series (14) of diffusers and impellers, which form a cylindrical assembly that forms, together with said casing (11), an annular interspace (16) which is connected to the inside of said series (14) of diffusers and impellers on the discharge side through corresponding openings (13 a) and on the inlet side through a hole (18) arranged perimetrically in the intake region, said hole (18) being controlled, on the side of said interspace (16), by a normally-open flexible metallic laminar valve (19), said pump (10) being characterized in that a wall (20) struck by said fluid exiting from said interspace (16) through said controlled hole (18) is shaped so as to have a double symmetrical channel (21), adapted to impart to said fluid a double vortex before passing through the first impeller of said series (14).
 2. The centrifugal pump according to claim 1, characterized in that said wall (20) struck by said fluid exiting from said interspace is formed by a flange (17) which divides said interspace (16) with a suction chamber (17 a) and said wall (20), and said shaped wall or surface (20) is formed on the face of said flange (17) that lies opposite said series (14) of diffusers and impellers.
 3. The centrifugal pump according to claim 1, characterized in that said wall (20) struck by said fluid exiting from said interspace (16) is formed by a first diffuser of said series (14) of diffusers and impellers.
 4. The centrifugal pump according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said channel (21) is constituted by two channels (24), each of which is shaped like a half-cardioid.
 5. The centrifugal pump according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said two channels (24) are formed by an external peripheral rim (25) which is shaped like a cardioid and by an inner rim (26) which is approximately shaped like a triangle with curved sides.
 6. The centrifugal pump according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a suction hole (27) is formed inside said inner rim (26).
 7. The centrifugal pump according to claim 2, characterized in that said flange (17) is substantially disk-shaped.
 8. The centrifugal pump according to claim 2, characterized in that said flange (17) is made of plastics. 